Nelly to pay photog $20K

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) – Nelly has agreed to pay $20,000 to a photographer who says he was roughed up by the hip-hop artist’s bodyguard, according to the photographer’s attorney.

Freelance photographer Jerry Livingston, 39, was photographing a Nelly concert for Chocolate City News on April 12, 2005, when he said Nelly’s bodyguard, Brian Jones, grabbed him by the arm, according to attorney Mark Arons.

Arons said Jones dragged Livingston to the side of the stage, threw him on the ground and pummeled him because he thought Livingston was videotaping the concert.

Arons said Livingston sprained his knee and had neck and back pain.

The case was headed for a civil trial when the two sides reached the settlement, which included no admission of guilt on Nelly’s part. Arons said Nelly’s security company will pay Livingston $3,000.

Livingston still has lawsuits pending against the city, the Arena at Harbor Yard, where the concert took place, and the company that manages the arena.